The rifle and pistol ranges at Island Lake State Recreation Area near Brighton have been re-opened starting today (Thursday). The ranges had been temporarily closed so some repair work on the earthen berms on the ranges could be completed.

Earthen berms at the ranges were repaired for the first time in nearly 10 years, according to Dennis Fox, DNR supervisor for Recruitment and Retention Programs. The repairs were necessary to ensure that more costly work on the berms does not have to be done in the future. Berms are used at the ranges to stop and contain bullets. The repairs were funded by the Game and Fish Protection Fund, a restricted fund comprised of hunting and fishing license fees, and federal funding.

The DNR reminds sport shooting enthusiasts who visit Island Lake that road construction projects around the recreation area have closed access to the shooting range from the east. Visitors will only be able to access the range from the west off of Grand River Road.

Michigan Shooting Centers LLC, the vendor that operates the sporting clays, skeet and trap services at the range, also has assumed operation of the pistol and rifle ranges under its existing contract, which was finalized while the ranges were closed for repairs.

For more information on shooting sports programs at Island Lake or any of the other five DNR-operated shooting ranges in southern Michigan, visit the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr. In addition to Island Lake, the DNR operates shooting ranges at Ortonville State Recreation Area in Lapeer County, Sharonville Shooting Range at Grass Lake in Jackson County, Rose Lake Shooting Range near Bath in Clinton County, and Pontiac Lake and Bald Mountain in Oakland County. DNR-operated shooting ranges are open Thursday through Monday from Nov. 16 through Sept. 30, Wednesday through Monday during the month of October and seven days a week from Nov. 1-15. Operating hours for Rose Lake and Sharonville are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Operating hours for Island Lake, Ortonville, Pontiac Lake and Bald Mountain are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.